Profile: Luke “The Iron Viking” Skaarup

Biography

Luke began competing in strongman in 2007 and since placing 9th at his first contest -- Ontario's Strongest Man -- he has been a regular on the Ontario Strongman circuit, competing at the light and open weight Canada's Strongest Man, North America's Strongest Man, and most recently at the World Amateur Strongman competition. Luke has established himself as one of the top strength athletes in Canada and one of the most dominant strongmen from Ontario. In 2012, Luke achieved his goal of becoming Ontario's Strongest Man.

Luke has always been a good athlete and has experience with many sports including bodybuilding, powerlifting, rugby, football, boxing and martial arts to name a few. Luke is originally from Thunder Bay and currently resides in Fort Frances, Ontario with his wife Nicki and their three children, Brayden, Gabrielle and Logan. He is a professional engineer (P.Eng), and works as a manager for a large gas utility. He has also been certified as a personal trainer since 2003 and promotes health and wellness in his spare time. He began promoting strongman competitions in 2008 in partnership with the United Way in Cambridge; currently he is promoting the Dryden Pro Competition and the Fort Frances OSM qualifier. More about Luke can be found on his website at www.lukeskaarup.com. You may also contact him at signature .

An interview with Luke is now posted on the OntarioStrongman forum.

Achievements

2011

3rd	Dubreuilville Pro Strongman Challenge
1st	Saskatoon Ex Strongman
1st	Harvest Fest Strongman (Winkler, MB)
1st	Thunder Bay's Strongest Man
3rd	Tbay Tel Pro Strongman Challenge (Dryden)
5th	Ontario's Strongest Man (Toronto)
1st	Ontario's Strongest Man Northern Qualifier (Fort Frances)
1st	Teddy Bob's Strongman (Winnipeg, MB)

2010

1st	Bavarian Strongman Challenge (Kitchener)
4th	Dubreuilville Pro Strongman Challenge
2nd	Motors & Muscles Push/Pull (Thunder Bay)
1st	Harvest Fest (Winkler MB)
3rd	Ontario's Strongest Man (Cornwall)
1st	Woodstock Strongman
22nd	World Amateur Strongman (Columbus OH)

2009

12th (injured)	North America's Strongest Man
8th	Canada's Strongest Man
8th	Quebec Cup - Cheneville Leg
3rd	Ontario's Strongest Man
1st	Rockbrune Bros (BARRIE) Strongman
2nd	Woodstock May Edition Strongman

2008

3rd	Bavarian Strongman Challenge (Waterloo)
1st	Animal Strongman Series Final
9th (injured)	Dubreuilville Pro Challenge
2nd (tied)	Canada's Strongest 105kg Man
6th	Ontario's Strongest Man (Wawa)
2nd	OSM Qualifier
3rd	Power of Dads (Ottawa)
8th	1st Leg - 2008 Animal Strongman Series
1st	2nd Leg - 2008 Animal Strongman Series

2007

2nd	Steel City Strength Challenge (Hamilton) - HW
1st	Woodstock Novice (Woodstock)
9th	Ontario's Strongest Man (Ottawa)

Best Lifts:

Bench Press: 455lb; Raw Squat: 610lb x 3 below parallel; Suited Squat: 725 lb x 2;Raw Deadlift: 750 lb; Equipped DL: 800 lb; Log Press: 335 lb x 1, 285 lb x 6

Stats

Born: 1979

Height: 6'0"    Weight: 300 lb
neck:             Chest: 54"
Arms: 20"       Quads: 29"

Photos

Atlas Stones '08 OSM	SUV Deadlift '08 OSM	Forward Hold '08 OSM	Farmer's Walk '08 OSM	Atlas Stones '08 OSM
Log Medley '08 OSM	Log Medley '08 OSM	Medley '08 OSM	Medley '08 OSM	Tire Flip '08 OSM
Truck Pull '08 OSM	Viking Press '08 OSM	Viking Press '08 OSM	18" deadlift '08 AS-1	Deadlift for reps '08 POD
Log Press '08 POD	Log Press '08 POD	Farmer's Walk '08 AS-1	Husafell Stone '07 OSM	Bodybuilding shots - 2005
Some images courtesy of Wawa News (www.wawa-news.com)